This pre-New Year football fest has been held for the past 35 years, with legendary college football programs like Texas, Oregon, California, and BYU taking the field in past years.

image credit: official US navy page

Like all bowls that have stood the test of time, the Holiday Bowl is about much more than the game itself.

A 5K race, events at SeaWorld and the San Diego Zoo, VIP luncheons, and the famous San Diego Big Bay Balloon Parade make this an exciting time of year, even for people who are not fans of college football.

But the game itself, held at Qualcomm Stadium, is the reason that the whole weekend takes place.

You can sit in the stands and soak in the atmosphere, or you can purchase a VIP ticket package that includes exclusive seats and access to an invitation-only pre-game event with a buffet, live entertainment, and drinks.

If you really want to turn this once-a-year extravaganza into a truly special event, the VIP treatment is the way to go.

image credit: Port of San Diego

If you really want to take full advantage of the Holiday Bowl experience, you can attend the exclusive US Bank Kickoff Luncheon.

Players, coaches and ESPN analysts will be on hand to discuss the game during a multi-course meal.

You can also mingle with the teams during their trips to the San Diego Zoo and SeaWorld.

The venue can host 50 seated guests, or provide space for more than 100 for a cocktail party.

Since it is located in one of the most affluent suburbs on the West Coast, the La Jolla Modern will give your event a truly exclusive feel.

The sleek modern design, oceanfront views and airy open spaces at this estate will certainly make yours one of the most memorable events of Holiday Bowl weekend for anyone who decides to attend.

For a larger corporate event, Las Olivas, a Tuscan-style estate in Rancho Santa Fe, will be in the highest demand.

The manicured two-acre grounds and the spacious home, which has overnight accommodations for your most-special guests, can host up to 50 people.

With terraces, water-falls, gardens, and an amazing al-fresco atmosphere, this is the perfect venue for someone who wants to go all out and host a truly spectacular and luxurious event.

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You can find other California event estates on our special California estate page. You can also browse our nationwide listings, including estates in locations where other bowl games are being held this year, on our main web site.

Your Turn...

Are you looking forward to the college football bowl season? Will you be attending the Holiday Bowl? What other games will you buy tickets for? Let us know in the comments section below.

Josh Lew has been a travel blogger and editor for the past decade. Besides writing for Venuelust, he contributes to Mother Nature Network. He loves the US Midwest, where he grew up and continues to live, but he would rather be sitting on a beach in the Caribbean or Southeast Asia.